Objectives:

• Determine if native Nova Scotia plant species are:
  • Shifting their flowering times earlier and in line with climate change
  • Responding differntiailly to climate change
• Identify species that have the potential to be more at risk from climate change than others

With temperatures warming, we expect to see that some species will shift their flowering times to earlier in the year. Species that are able to shift their flowering times in line with climate change are thought to be less at risk from climate change then those that cannot.

Using herbarium specimens accessioned in the EC Smith Herbarium as a source of historic flowering data, I will construct a time series of flowering times for different native Nova Scotia species.

Taya Lucas-Desmond

Taya is entering her fourth year at Acadia doing an honours in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology. Her honours project is working with Acadia Biology professor Dr. Zoe Panchen. She is excited to study how native Nova Scotian flor is responding to climate change as she hopes to work in conservation in the future. Taya, originally from Nova Scotia, says “I like research because it gives me the opportunity to learn something new, I’m always up for a challenge”!

Click here to read more about Taya’s research